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Cook Children's Specialties

Looking for a pediatric specialty clinic? Cook Children's has more than 60 locations across North Texas, because even when your child's diagnosis is complicated, finding the right care should be simple.

Urology

Pediatric Urology is dedicated to the treatment and care of problems related to the kidney, ureter, bladder, prostate, urethra, penis, vagina and testicles of children.

Procedures

Undescended Testicle (Cryptorchidisn)
About 5 out of every 100 baby boys are born with an undescended testicle, which occurs when a testicle does not move into the scrotum as it should. It is most common in babies who were born before their due date or who were very small at birth. In more than half of cases, the testicle descends on its own by the time a baby is 3 months old. If the testicles have not descended by the time a child is 6 months of age, your doctor may suggest treatment

HerniaA hernia occurs when the inside layers of the abdominal wall weaken then bulge or tear. The inner lining of the abdomen pushes through the weakened area to form a balloon-like sac. This, in turn, can cause a loop of intestine or abdominal tissue to slip into the sac, causing pain and other potentially serious health problems.
Hernias usually need to be surgically repaired to prevent intestinal damage and further complications. The surgery takes about an hour and is usually performed on an outpatient basis. This surgery may be performed by an open repair (small incision over the herniated area) or by laparoscopic surgery (minimally invasive). Your surgeon will determine the best method of repair for your individual situation.

Circumcision
Males are born with a hood of skin, called the foreskin, covering the glans (head) of the penis. In circumcision, the foreskin is surgically removed, exposing the end of the penis. A circumcision is best performed within the first 2 to 3 weeks after birth, as it can become more complicated as a child gets older, but the procedure is usually performed during the first 10 days, often within 48 hours of birth.

Studies indicate that circumcised infants are less likely to contract a urinary tract infection (UTI) in their first year of life. About one out of every 1,000 circumcised boys has a UTI in the first year, whereas the rate is one in 100 (at most) for uncircumcised infants.

While circumcision appears to offer some medical benefits, it also carries the same potential risks as any surgical procedure. Complications resulting from newborn circumcision are uncommon, occurring in between 0.2% to 3% of cases. Of these, the most frequent are minor bleeding and local infection, both of which can be easily treated by your child's doctor.